Poor People’s Campaign – East Bay Campaign & Mass Meetings

The Poor People’s Campaign has just released a social history of the US over past 50 years called “The Souls of Poor Folk”, showing that little progress has been made in combating poverty since the death of MLK .

Poor Peoples Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival

Information received from national webcast on March 19, 2018 and local meeting on April 3rd

Prepared by Norman Bardsley

The major outcome from the webcast was a description of the themes for the six weeks of the campaign

1. May 13-19: “It’s gone on far too long – who is hurting?” Focus on suffering people, through examples and statistics. Examples will certainly include mothers and children (May 13^this Mother’s Day) and the disabled.
2. May 20-26: “Systemic Racism” – Voter suppression, police procedures and criminal justice system, access to high quality education and housing, immigration policies and enforcement, incitement to or toleration of hate speech and discrimination, the connection between systemic racism and systemic poverty……
3. May 27-June 2 (Including Memorial Day): “The Military Economy” – The imbalance between military and social programs, war fatalities and long-term impact on participants, idolization of violence and the gun culture, militarization of internal security services (arming teachers etc)…..
4. June 3-9: “Ecological Devastation” – Healthy planet and healthy people – climate change, air pollution, contaminated water, land control, soil preservation, health care….
5. June 10-16: “Right to Live with Human Dignity” – Access to the elements that could support an abundant life for all if equitably shared – jobs that provide a living wage and fair working conditions, food, housing, education……
6. June 17-23: “Distorted Moral Narrative” – The hijacking of moral imperatives by groups who focus on narrow issues, often in the name of religious beliefs or false nationalism. The need to expand social programs to heal those who have been hurt with advocacy to remove the causes of injury, deprivation and discrimination.  Working towards Moral Fusion by supporting others whose passions and expertise differ from ours.

The schedule for preparation and specific actions during the six weeks is less clear.  But here are some provisional dates:

 

June 23^rd:  Nationally coordinated final mass meetings or rallies